MS Finance (MSF) Admissions

To be in the program the applicant must have earned the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree with a competitive GPA. Applicants in the process of finishing an undergraduate degree may apply, with acceptance contingent on finishing the undergraduate degree and ability to be physically present at the start of the program. Please see degree requirements by country.

USC students/staff/alumni, US military veterans, and select other groups qualify for an application fee waiver. Please review Fee Waiver categories and instructions on how to apply or a waiver.

Transcript requirements are set forth by USC Office of Graduate Admission. Please view their website for detailed guidelines.

GMAT/GRE

All applicants, regardless of academic history and work experience, must submit a valid GMAT or GRE score. We are now accepting GMAT Focus on addition to the traditional GMAT score.

Official scores must be received before the deadline and sent directly to USC by the testing service in order to be reviewed.

Submitting Scores: Upload electronic copies of your GMAT or GRE scores with your application in addition to sending official scores to USC Marshall through the testing service (GMAC or ETS).

Code:

• GRE: 4852 (No department code is required).
• GMAT: 389-9C-23

Your scores are considered valid only if earned within five years of the month of your intended first term at USC.

English-Language proficiency –TOEFL/IELTS (International Students)

International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores.

MSF Minimum Requirement:
TOEFL: Total 100; each band 20
IELTS: Overall 7; each band 6

PTE: Overall 68, each band 53

Exceptions: International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement only under these circumstances linked here English-Language Test Waiver

Submitting Scores: To avoid delays in the processing of your application, please have your TOEFL or IELTS scores sent to USC when you pre-register for the examination, using the codes below. We also recommend uploading electronic (PDF) copies of your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores with your application in addition to sending official scores through the testing service. Official scores must be received directly from the testing service and dated no earlier than 2 years (24 months) prior to the month in which you submit your application to USC. Do not enter the name and contact information of your specific intended graduate department. Please see here to learn about how to send official scores to USC.

Code:
TOEFL: 4852 (no department code is required)
IELTS: Choose “University of Southern California, Graduate Programs” from the list of available institutions.

You may be invited to complete an online video assessment as part of your application to the USC Master of Science in Finance program. This step of the application process is by invitation only. If you are invited to submit a Kira assessment, please treat this as your formal interview.

Requests for Kira assessments will not be considered. This part of the application is by invitation only.

It is not necessary to submit financial documents or a copy of a valid passport for your application to be reviewed or for an admission decision to be rendered. However, these documentations are required for certified students to REQUEST I-20 in TROJAN INTERNATIONAL.

Please read carefully through USC Graduate Admissions financial documentation requirements, particularly the Financial Statement Expense Figures as well as the detailed guidelines for submitting proof of financial support.

Tuition
Tuition is calculated per unit based on the unit price of the given academic year. Tuition is subject to increase each academic year. Please review detailed information on tuition and mandatory fees. Please keep in mind this information relates only to the listed academic year.

The MSF program is a 36-unit program of Business Graduate (500 level and above) Coursework.

In addition, we ask students to budget for approximately $4000 in additional university and program fees. Students are also responsible for housing, food, transportation and student health insurance costs.

Scholarships
The MSF program offers limited amount of scholarship to admitted students. Recipients will be chosen based on a holistic assessment. There is no separate application for the scholarship. U.S. citizens and international students are eligible. Applicants are encouraged to apply for round 1 and 2 for priority scholarship consideration.

Financial Aid

Please visit USC Financial Aid and click on “Graduates & Professionals” You will find information on U.S. citizens and international students.

On-campus Employment

Students may seek on-campus employment opportunities once they begin the program.

Teaching and Research Assistantships

MSF program itself does not offer research or teaching assistantships, however, students are welcome to seek one out on their own once the program has started.

• Applicants may apply only once they have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate course work, excluding AP, IB, or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school.
• Applicants may apply in their junior (recommended) or senior year but no later than the semester prior to beginning graduate course work.
• Applicants do not need to submit GRE, GMAT, or other graduate entrance exam scores, but should have at least a 3.0 cumulative USC GPA at the time of application.
• Non-Marshall majors must have a final grade in BUAD 306: Business Finance or BUAD 308: Advanced Business Finance before submitting an application. Note: If you are a Senior graduating in May 2024, this requirement is not applicable for the Fall 2024 application cycle. For all future application cycles (Fall 2025 and later), all applicants must meet this admission requirement.
  

Visit the USC Progressive Degree Program Website for USC requirements, student classification and Financial Aid.

If you meet the qualifications mentioned above, you may apply to the MSF Progressive Degree Program for the upcoming Fall term.

A completed application includes:

· Application Form + Proposed Course Plan (No department signatures required for initial application) USC Progressive Degree Program application

· Most up to date STARS report

· Essay: no more than 500 words describing why you would like to pursue an MS in Finance PDP and your career aspirations.

· CV or Resume

· Letter of Recommendation (LOR): at least 1 letter (must be from USC Faculty); Two letter are preferred (second letter can be non-academic). LOR should be emailed by the recommender directly to the MSF Program Office: ms.fin@marshall.usc.edu

The Admissions Committee will review all applicants and interview invitations will be sent out for all qualifying applicants. During the interview your course plan will be reviewed, and final edits will be suggested.

Final decisions are released approximately 4-6 weeks after each application deadline. If you are recommended by the MSF committee for admission you will receive an email with next steps to accept and finalize your admission. The Progressive Degree Coordinator, Stephanie German, will work with you to finalize your course plan and update your record.

                                                                       Application Opens               Application Closes

Spring Application                                            December 15th                    February 1st

Summer Application                                         May 15th                             June 15th

*Minimum required units must be completed before application submission. In progress units will not be considered for total unit count.

*Seniors must apply before they complete their final undergraduate term.

Please do your best to complete the USC Progressive Degree Program application, use the instruction below to fill out the first draft of your course plan:

• Fill out the course plan starting with your intended first semester (MSF is a fall start only program)
• Enter all MSF proposed electives as “Graduate Elective Course”. Do not enter the course title.
• If you qualify to waive out of a course, do not list it in your course plan.
• Do NOT get any department signatures on the form since this is a first draft.
• Enter all undergraduate courses you intend to take. For Marshall students please indicate your MUDE courses by adding (MUDE) after the course title.
• Feel free to add more lines to the semesters if there’s no room.

For your reference, please note the intended terms for all MSF core classes.

FALL TERM (PREFERABLY 1ST TERM)
GSBA 510: Accounting Concepts & Financial Reporting
GSBA 511: Microeconomics for Management
FBE 506: Quantitative Methods in Finance

FIRST FALL TERM
GSBA 542: Communication for Management
GSBA 548: Corporate Finance

FALL TERM (NOT FIRST TERM)
FBE 531: Corporate Financial Policy & Corporate Governance

FIRST SPRING TERM
FBE 529: Financial Analysis & Valuation

SPRING TERM
FBE 555: Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management